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International Conference On
Competitive Market Ends
Foroyaa online, Gambia,
August 04, 2009
An international
conference on competitive market ended on Thursday at
the Senegambia Beach Hotel.
The conference was
organized by the Pro-Poor Advocacy Group (Pro-PAG) in
partnership with the Gambia competition commission (GCC)
and the consumer unity and trust society (CUTS
international, unity).
The conference was a
mid-term review of the 7up4 project for selected
countries. The project is being simultaneously
executed in seven countries; Burkina Faso, Ghana,
Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and the Gambia.
In his keynote address,
the minister of trade, industry and employment Abdou
Kolley said promoting competition culture and
awareness in a country requires long and sustained
programmes of advocacy and awareness campaign.
SoS Kolley explained that
the Gambia has enacted its competition policy and law
in 2007 with support from the commonwealth
secretariat. The act he said prohibits all collusive
agreements or practices which have effect of
preventing, restricting or distorting competition.
under the said act SoS
Kolley said mergers and monopoly situations that
results to or are likely to result to substantial
lessening of competition are subject to investigation.
He explained that the Gambia government in November
2008 established the Gambia competition commission
with the appointment of the executive secretary and
commission members. He stressed the need to promote
the competition culture and awareness in the country,
enforcing laws with limited resources and dealing with
cross-border enforcement problems.
Lack of resources he said
is an obstacle towards the successful implementation
of competitive law. This he said is not only finance
but also includes institutional capacity particularly
skilled human resources among others.
The acting director of
Pro-PAG john Charles N’jie, explained that August last
year, Pro-PAG signed a Memorandum of understanding
with CUTS centre for competitive investment economic
regulations (CUTS C-CIER) to undertake a two year
project. The project he said is entitled
“Strengthening constituencies for effective
competition regimes in select West African Countries
(7up4 project). The purpose of this project he went
on, is to foster a healthy competition culture through
evidence-based research, capacity building and
advocacy.
This conference Mr. N’jie
added will offer project countries the opportunity to
share their research findings, the challenges
encountered and chart a way forward. The secretary
general of CUTS Pradeep S. Mehta gave a background of
CUTS.
e said CUTS started
implementing projects on competition policy and law
issues involving the 7up approach from the year 2000.
This project he said
comprises of three components: Research, advocacy and
capacity building activities that are undertaken at
different stages of the project.
The news item can also be
viewed at:
http://www.foroyaa.gm/
Mid-Term Review On Strengthening Competition Underway
The Point, Gambia,
July 30, 2009
The Pro-Poor Advocacy
Group, in partnership with the Gambia Competition
Commission and the Consumer Unity and Trust Society
(CUTS International, India) yesterday commenced a
two-day conference on the mid-term review of a
project, entitled “Strengthening Constituencies for
Effective Competition Regimes in Select West African
Countries” (7Up4).
The conference, which is
currently underway at the Senegambia Beach Hotel,
brought together local and international participants
with a view to strengthening constituencies for
effective competition regimes in selected West African
countries.
In his opening statement,
Honourable Abdou Kolley, the Minister of Finance and
Economic Affairs, who is also overseeing the Ministry
of Trade, Industry and Employment, said for any
competition regime to be successful, particularly, in
the developing countries’ fundamental areas of concern
must be adequately addressed.
“I have no doubt that
given the wealth of experience accumulated by CUTS
over the years in promoting fair markets and enhancing
consumer welfare, this project will achieve its
desired goals in The Gambia and other participating
member countries,” he stated.
According to him, most of
our economics are already liberalised following the
Structural Adjustment Programmes of the 1980s and more
recently the outcomes of the two negotiations. The
liberalisation and competition, Minister Kolley
further explained, have been reflected in higher GDP
growth, expansion of employment opportunities, and a
dramatic rise in the availability and choice of goods
and services for consumers.
He stated that The Gambia
has enacted its competition policy and law in 2007,
with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Competition Act of The
Gambia, he went further, prohibits all collusive
agreements or practices, which have the effects of
preventing, restricting or distorting competition.
The news item can also be
viewed at:
http://thepoint.gm/
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